Eduard Riders in the Sky 1944 - RAF Liberator - 1:72 Eduard

[Paul A H]

Riders in the Sky 1944 - RAF Liberator

1:72 Eduard

 

 

Designed by the Consolidated Aircraft Company of California, the B-24 Liberator is famous for having been produced in greater numbers than any other Allied bomber of the Second World War. 18,482 examples were manufactured in total. Often overshadowed by the better known Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 was actually faster and could carry a heavier payload over a greater distance. Consolidated’s design incorporated a number of innovative features for the period, including tricycle undercarriage and efficient, high aspect ratio wings. The GR Mk V was developed from the B-24D, which was in turn an improved B-24C fitted with uprated R-1830-43 engines. The GR MK V was adapted for anti-submarine duties, with aircraft receiving search radar and underwing Leigh Lights. Some aircraft were fitted with underwing rockets as well. The introduction of the Liberator is credited as having an important bearing on the Battle of the Atlantic. The long-range patrol aircraft were able to close the mid-Atlantic gap and were credited in full or in part with the destruction of 93 U-boats. 

 

 

 

 

 

Eduard's latest Liberator borrows plastic from Japanese giants Hasegawa, sprinkled with extra Eduard goodies. Those goodies are not limited to photo etched parts, pre-cut paints masks and decals, but also include two complete sprues of new plastic parts that enable RAF GR Mk V variants of the famous aircraft to be produced. Also inside the box is a fairly hefty book about Coastal Command Liberators, with a particular focus on 311 Squadron. All of this is found within a commodious and lavishly illustrated top-opening box. As you would expect, the Hasegawa plastic parts are pretty much perfect. Surface details are crisp, clear and fine, while the overall finish of the plastic is beautifully smooth. The Eduard parts are distinguishable from the Hasegawa parts, but only just. 

 

Construction starts with the interior structures. This structure runs from the cockpit to the tail turret, and includes a full bomb bay and stations for the waist gunners. The spar for the wing is also accommodated within this sub-assembly. The cockpit is very well detailed by Hasegawa standards, and of course it benefits from extra parts such as a photo etched instrument panel seat harnesses, etc. The Liberator, with its tricycle undercarriage, is a notorious tail-sitter. Eduard's instructions show the placement of nose ballast but not the amount required, so you may wish to maximise the amount you can cram in just in case.

 

 

 

 

 

Once all of that lovely detail has been sealed inside the fuselage halves, most of the clear parts can be fitted. The pre-cut masks come into their own here; they really are a God send when building a large kit such as this. The tail unit is a surprisingly simple part, with rudders and elevators moulded in place. Parts are provided for both the nose-mounted and ball-turret mounted ASV radar sets, so you will need to commit to a specific aircraft at this stage of the build. The bomb bay is nicely detailed and include bomb racks, but you can seal all of the detail behind the bomb bay doors if you want a more streamlined finish to your model (or if you simply can't be bothered to paint all of that detail).

 

As with the tail, the wings are relatively simple, comprising upper and lower halves with the main gear bay sandwiched in the middle. The elevators are moulded in place. The engines are a more interesting proposition, with each pod made up from seven parts, including the two-part engine. The landing gear is nicely detailed, with flats moulded onto the tyres and separately moulded hubs. A nicely detailed Leigh Light is provided on the Eduard sprues, which also provide replacement parts for the turrets. There are three separate tail turrets to choose from depending on the option you wish to build. Optional rockets are also provided.

 

 

 

The clear parts - both Eduard and Hasegawa - are nicely moulded and crystal clear. Several of the Eduard parts had become detached from the sprue and were loose in the bag however, so watch out for this. 

 

 

 

A staggering twelve options are provided for on the decal sheet:

• Liberator GR Mk.V, BZ721, flown by S/Ldr Terence Bulloch, No. 224 Squadron, St. Eval, July 1943;
• Liberator GR Mk.V, BZ723, flown by S/Ldr Alois Šedivý, No. 311 Squadron, Tain, October 1944;
• Liberator GR Mk.V, BZ774, flown by F/Sgt Otakar Žanta, No. 311 Squadron, Beaulieu, Autumn 1943;
• Liberator GR Mk.V, BZ779, flown by F/Sgt Josef Kuhn, No. 311 Squadron, Beaulieu, October 1943;
• Liberator GR Mk.V, BZ786, flown by P/O Jan Irving, No. 311 Squadron, Beaulieu, Autumn 1943;
• Liberator GR Mk.V, BZ796, flown by P/O Oldřich Doležal, No. 311 Squadron, Beaulieu, December 1943;
• Liberator GR Mk.V, FL961, flown by F/O Jan Vella, No. 311 Squadron, Predannack, June 1944;
• Liberator GR Mk.V, FL949, flown by F/O Josef Pavelka, No. 311 Squadron, Tain, October 1944;
• Liberator GR Mk.III, FL936, flown by P/O Ben Hall, No. 160 Squadron, Sigiriya, Ceylon, Autumn 1943;
• Liberator GR Mk.V, BZ832, flown by F/O Lloyd A. Trigg, No. 200 Squadron, Yundum, Gambia, August 1943
• Liberator GR Mk.V, BZ862, No. 354 Squadron, 1944;
• Liberator GR Mk.V, BZ755, North West Air Command, Canada, Summer 1946

The painting and marking options are illustrated in full colour, while a seperate diagram is provided for the extensive selection of stencils. 

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

A tie-in with Hasegawa was never going to be cheap, but with the extra plastic parts, the photo etch and masks and the excellent book, Eduard have managed to make this kit into a value proposition. Although they have released plenty of extra bits and bobs for this kit, what you get in the box is a pretty comprehensive package. If you want to build a Coastal Command Liberator, then this is a much better starting point than the Academy/Minicraft kit. Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of